Method of making containers



Dec. 21, 1965 W. F. ROSS] ETAL METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINERS OriginalFiled Sept. 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTO 5 l8 Mai *3. mi??? .WAAWTL 3 ATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1965 w. F. ROSS] ETAL 3,224,918

METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINERS Original Filed Sept. 22, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet2 Wm 25% m 25/ 5 I7 is 7\ '7 I v M I 1 L 30 1 l 32 I\\\\SZ L s /6fl 64am1 AA'JV/V E Io IIIF I95 INVEN R5 WILLIAM F 0551 SUL O. HUTON 9 WMATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1965 w. F. ROSSI ETAL 3,224,918

METHOD OF MAKING CONTAINERS Original Filed Sept. 22, 19 59 3Sheets-Sheet 5 IIFI .6

INVENTORS WlLLlAM F. ROSS! PAL) L- O. HU STON l- W241i.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,224,918 METHOD OF MAKENG CQNTAINERSWilliam F. Rossi and Paul 0. Huston, Bloomfield, N..l.,

assignors to Specialties Development Corporation, Belleville, EssexCounty, N..I., a corporation of New Jersey Original application Sept.22, 1959, Ser. No. 841,484.

Divided and this application July 20, 1962, Ser. No.

6 Claims. (Cl. 156-475) This application is a division of United Statesapplication Serial No. 841,484, filed September 22, 1959, now Patent N0.3,079,038, dated February 26, 1963.

The present invention relates to containers, and, more particularly, toa method of making generally cylindrical containers formed of aplurality of windings of resin impregnated yarn.

Heretofore, attempts have been made to construct generally cylindricalcontainers comprising a fitting at one end for connecting a valve orpipe, a Wall member or another fitting at the other end, and windings ofresin impregnated yarn such as fiber glass for building up the side wallstructure of the container and to secure the fitting and the wall memberto the side wall structure to provide a unitary, pressure resistingcontainer. These attempts have not been completely successful because ofthe difficulties in securing the fitting and wall member and providingthe side wall with longitudinal tensile strength to resist the servicepressure of the medium confined in the container without resorting to awall thickness which would increase the weight of the container beyond apermissible value.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide animproved method of making containers of the foregoing type.

Another object is to provide such a method wherein the windings are soarranged that the container is light in weight and has the requiredstructural strength for its intended purpose.

A further object is to provide a method of making such containers whichis simple, practical and economical.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a form supported on windingapparatus and having end fittings thereon over which the windings ofresin impregnated yarn are applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of an end fittinghaving a pad winding applied thereto.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 illustrating a longitudinal orend-over-end winding which is applied over the end fittings and theform.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 illustrating a trap winding forsecuring a portion of the longitudinal winding over the pad winding.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a finish ing hoopwinding which is applied onto a portion of the pad winding, a foldedover portion of the longitudinal winding, and the form to provide sidewall structure.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the finished container apartfrom the winding apparatus with the form removed therefrom.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a container similar to thatshown in FIG. 6 wherein an end fitting is contoured to simulate the padwinding.

Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to FIG. 1thereof, there is shown a hollow, gen- 3,224,918 Patented Dec. 21, 1965erally cylindrical form or mandrel 10 made of a low melting point alloy.The form has a cylindrical side wall 11, a generally hemispherical wall12 at its lower end formed with a small opening 14, and has a largeopening 13 at its upper end. An end fitting 15 has 21 depending flange 8which is applied to the upper end of the wall 11, and has a cylindricalsection 16 provided with an opening 17 which matches the opening 13 ofthe form. An end fitting 18 which is applied to the end wall 12 has aninteriorly threaded outwardly extending spud 19 formed with a threadedopening 20 which matches the opening 14 of the form, and has an upwardlyfacing flange 9. If desired, the spud may extend inwardly and bedisposed in the opening 14 of the form. The end fittings and the formare secured to and supported for rotation with a rotatable spindle orwinding post 21 threaded into the spud 19 and having a nut 22 thereon.and by a guide disc 23 inserted into the opening 17 of the cylindricalsection 16 and secured to the spindle 21. by set-screws 24.

The drive mechanism for the spindle and the apparatus for applying hoopwindings and end-over-end winding referred to hereinafter need not beshown herein because such mechanism and apparatus may be constructed inaccordance with the teachings and suggestions found in United StatesPatent 2,858,992, Nov. 4, 1958.

In order to carry out the present invention, the spindle 21 is equippedwith a plate 25 secured thereon by setscrews 26 to position the sameadjacent and spaced from the opening 17 of the cylindrical section 16.This plate is adapted to be inserted into the opening 17 upon looseningthe set-screws 26 to control the tensioning of a winding as describedhereinafter. Movement of the plate 25 toward the opening may be resistedby a light spring 27 disposed between the disc 23 and the plate 25 whenthe set screws are loosened. Also, a flat ring 28 is placed on thecylindrical section adjacent its free end is secured thereto byset-screws 29 which serve to confine windings on the cylindrical sectionas described hereinafter.

In FIG. 2, a portion of the fitting 15 is shown with a continuous hoopwinding H applied to the cylindrical section 16 extending from the ring28 to the upper portion of the flange 8 of the fitting. This winding isbuilt up in layers to serve as a pad constituting a portion of thefitting 15 for ultimately receiving portions of end-overend windings, aswill be described hereinafter, and for this purpose the pad winding iscontoured to provide an annular recess 30 adjacent the lower end and anannular bulge 31 adjacent the upper end. This winding is evenlytensioned and preferably comprises epoxy resin impregnated fiber glassyarn.

In FIG. 3, an end-over-end winding E of longitudinally extending,substantially parallel strands is shown at the commencement of thewinding thereof. The strands are wound under tension over the plate 25and suflicient layers are wound to form generally hemispherical end wallstructure over the end wall 12 and the side wall of the form 10 as shownin FIG. 6. This winding preferably comprises epoxy resin impregnatedfiber glass yarn.

When the end-over-end winding E has been completed, the set-screws 26are loosened and a continuous hoop winding H is applied under tensionabout the annular zone of the end-over-end winding E adjacent the padwinding H, to draw this zone into the recess 30 and tension the same asthe spring 27 yields and the plate 25 is moved into the opening 17, asshown in FIG. 4. Sufficient layers of this winding are provided tosecurely trap the drawn-in portion of the Winding E. As shown, this trapwinding increases in thickness from below the pad winding and is builtup across the recess 31 to the bulge 31. Preferably, this windingcomprises epoxy resin impregnated fiber glass yarn.

After the trap windings H has been completed, as shown in FIG. 4, theend-over-end winding is cut along an annular path C to provide a tubularflap or sleeve 32 of a length sufficient to enable it to be folded backover the trap windings H as shown in broken lines. In the illustrativeembodiment, the flap has the desired length if the path, along which thewinding E is cut, is disposed at about the midpoint between the innerand outer edges of the ring 28. The cutaway portions of the endover-endwinding are discarded.

As shown in FIG. 5, the flap 32 is secured over the trap windings H by acontinuous hoop winding H which fills the space between the ring 21%,the bulge 31 and the fold of the flap; covers the flap; and extends overthe end-over-end winding to the end wall structure (FIG. 6). Thiswinding preferably comprises epoxy resin impregnated yarn.

In FIG. 6, the completely wound container is shown apart from the ring28, the plate 25 and the winding post 21, and with the resin cured andthe form 10 melted out to provide the finished container wall structure.By using the fiat ring 28 to confine the upper end of the windings H andH a smooth, horizontal, annular surface 33 is provided just below thefree end of the cylindrical section 16.

As shown in FIG. 7, the pad winding H may be dispensed with by utilizinga fitting having a cylindrical section 16 formed with a recess 30' and abulge 31'. Also, the ring 28 can be dispensed with by providing thetension plate 2.5 with an outer section 28' of reduced thickness whichoverlies the free end of the cylindrical section 16 and extendsoutwardly thereof when the plate pnoper is inserted into fitting opening17 upon completion of the trap Winding H The plate section 28' is thenpositioned to serve as a means for confining the upper end of thefinished wind H to provide a surface 33' which is flush with the upperedge of the cylindrical section.

If desired, both ends of the container could be provided with a largeopening by modifying the winding post so that a disc 23 is in drivingconnection with the form 10 at both ends thereof, for example at thewall of the opening 13, and having a fitting 15, a plate 25, a spring 27and a ring 28 or 28' at both ends.

The container as illustrated in its preferred form is particularlyuseful as a rocket case which has a high strength for weight ratio.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the presentinvention provides an improved method of making containers wherein theupper ends of an endover-end winding are firmly secured under tension towithstanding longitudinal stresses and the last hoop winding is arrangedto bind in the end-over-end winding withstand radial stresses. In thismanner, a strong generally cylindrical container is provided which isparticularly suitable where a large opening is required at one or bothends thereof.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangementof the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to beunderstood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrativeand not in any limiting sense.

We claim:

1. The method of making a generally cylindrical container having afitting at one end, which method comprises forming an end-over-endwinding of longitudinally extending, substantially parallel strandsproviding side wall structure for the container and a cap portion overthe fitting; cutting the cap portion to provide a sleeve extendinglongitudinally outwardly of the side wall structure; forming first hoopwindings on the inner portion of the sleeve to cause the same to overliethe fitting and be secured thereto; folding the outer portion of thesleeve over the first hoop windings and forming second hoop windings onthe folded over portion to further secure the sleeve to the fitting andforming the second hoop Winding on the longitudinally extending portionsof the strands to provide additional side wall structure.

2. The method of making a generally cylindrical container on a formhaving a fitting at one end, which method comprises forming anend-over-end winding on the form including longitudinally extending,substantially parallel strands providing side wall structure for thecontainer and a cap portion over the fitting; cutting the cap portionand shaping the same to provide a sleeve extending longitudinallyoutwardly of the side wall structure; forming first hoop windings on theinner portion of the sleeve to cause the same to overlie the fitting andbe secured thereto; folding the outer portion of the sleeve over thefirst hoop windings; and forming second hoop windings on the folded overportion to further secure the sleeve to the fitting and forming thesecond hoop winding on the longitudinally extending strands to provideadditional side wall structure.

3. The method of making a generally cylindrical container, which methodcomprises placing an end fitting on one end of a cylindrical form havinga collar formed with an opening; placing a ring adjacent the opening ofthe collar; applying a first hoop winding on the collar abutting thering which is contoured to form an annular arcuate recess therein;placing a plate adjacent and spaced from the opening; applying alongitudinally extending end-overend winding over the form, the endfitting, the ring and the plate to provide side wall structure; applyinga second hoop winding over the end-over-end winding at the recess todraw portions of the end-over-end winding into the recess whiletensioning the end-over-end winding; cutting the end-over-end winding inan annular path to provide a tubular flap extending longitudinallyoutwardly of the second hoop winding; folding the flap to place it overthe second hoop winding; applying a third hoop winding over the flap tosecure the flap and over the side wall structure to provide additionalside wall structure; removing the ring and the plate; and removing theform.

4. The method of making a generally cylindrical container, which methodcomprises placing an end fitting on one end of a cylindrical form havinga collar formed with an opening; placing a ring on the collar adjacentthe opening; applying a first hoop winding on the collar abutting thering which is contoured to form an annular arcuate recess therein;placing a circular plate adjacent and spaced from the opening anddisposed, in a plane intersecting the longitudinal axis of the form atright angles; applying a longitudinally extending end-over-end windingover the form, the end fitting, the ring and the plate to provide sidewall structure; applying a second hoop winding over the end-over-endwinding at the recess to draw portions of the end-over-end winding intothe recess while tensioning the end-over-end winding with the plate;cutting the end-over-end winding in an annular path located inwardly ofthe outer periphery of the ring to provide a tubular flap extendinglongitudinally outwardly of the second hoop winding; folding the flap toplace it over the second hoop winding; applying a third hoop windingover the flap to secure the flap and over the side wall structure toprovide additional side wall structure; removing the ring and the plate;and removing the form.

5. The method of making a generally cylindrical container, which methodcomprises placing an end fitting on each end of a cylindrical form, atleast one of the end fittings having a collar formed with an opening;placing a ring on the collar adjacent the opening; applying a first hoopwinding on the collar abutting the ring which is contoured to form anannular arcuate recess therein; placing a plate adjacently spaced fromthe opening and disposed, in a plane intersecting the longitudinal axisof the form at right angles; applying a longitudinally extendingend-overend winding over the form, the end fittings, the ring and theplate to provide side wall structure; applying a second hoop windingover the end-overend winding at the recess to draw portions of theend-overend winding into the recess while tensioning the end-overendwinding with the plate; cutting the end-over-end winding in an annularpath to provide a tubular flap extending outwardly of the second hoopwinding; folding the flap to place it over the second hoop winding;applying a third hoop winding over the flap to secure the flap and overthe side wall structure to provide additional side wall structure;removing the ring and the plate; and removing the form.

6. The method of making a generally cylindrical container, which methodcomprises placing an end fitting on one end of a cylindrical form havinga collar formed with an external annular recess and an opening; placinga ring adjacent the opening of the collar; placing a plate adjacent andspaced from the opening; applying a longitudinally extendingend-over-end winding over the form, the end fitting, the ring and theplate to provide side wall structure; applying a first hoop winding overthe end-over-end winding at the recess to draw portions of theend-overend winding into the recess while tensioning the end-overendwinding; cutting the end-over-end winding in an annular path to providea tubular flap extending longitudinally outwardly of the first hoopwinding; folding the flap to place it over the first hoop winding;applying a second hoop winding over the flap to secure the flap and overthe side Wall structure to provide additional side wall structure;removing the plate; and removing the form.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,795,388 3/1931Dumat 2203 ALEXANDER WYMAN, Primary Examiner.

EARL M. BERGERT, Examiner.

5. THE METHOD OF MAKING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER, WHICH METHODCOMPRISES PLACING AN END FITTING ON EACH END OF A CYLINDRICAL FORM, ATLEAST ONE OF THE END FITTINGS HAVING A COLLAR FORMED WITH AN OPENING;PLACING A RING ON THE COLLAR ADJACENT THE OPENING; APPLYING A FIRST HOOPWINDING ON THE COLLAR ABUTING THE RING WHICH IS CONTOURED TO FORM ANANNULAR ARCUATE RECESS THEREIN; PLACING A PLATE ADJACENTLY SPACED FROMTHE OPENING AND DISPOSED, IN A PLANE INTERSECTING THE LONGITUDINAL AXISOF THE FORM AT RIGHT ANGLES; APPLYING A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDINGEND-OVER-END WINDING OVER THE FORM, THE END FITTINGS, THE RING AND THEPLATE TO PROVIDE SIDE WALL STRUCTURE; APPLYING A SECOND HOOP WINDINGOVER THE END-OVEREND WINDING AT THE RECESS TO DRAW PORTIONS OF THEEND-OVEREND WINDING INTO THE RECESS WHILE TENSIONING THE END-OVERENDWINDING WITH THE PLATE; CUTTING THE END-OVER-END WINDING IN AN ANNULARPATH TO PROVIDE A TUBULAR FLAP EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF THE SECOND HOOPWINDING; FOLDING THE FLAP TO PLACE IT OVER THE SECOND HOOP WINDING;APPLYING A THIRD HOOP WINDING OVER THE FLAP TO SECURE THE FLAP AND OVERTHE SIDE WALL STRUCTURE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SIDE WALL STRUCTURE;REMOVING THE RING AND THE PLATE; AND REMOVING THE FORM.